September 23, 2023 - Jason's birthday and old Bordeaux (Newcastle, WA): Sharp, edgy and medicinal. Wow, pure cherry, bright, great acidity, minty notes. Mmmm, leathery on the finish, gamey, good funk!
September 5, 2022 - I had this 2 years ago based on my last tasting notes, unfortunately the bottle condition is not ideal. The cork was sunk in when I open up the capsule, which also means that it might have be oxidised. There notes of banyard, wet forest, toast, charr wood and spices. Unlike the previous bottle I had which still have fruits left. Overall still drinkable.
September 11, 2021 - Yet again, the 1955 Ducru-Beaucaillou shows a wonderful panoply of mature Bordeaux aromas, bursting with mixed berries, warm cedar, ginger, tea, and loam - true to the 1955 archetype, simultaneously elegant and powerful, seemingly to offer all things to all people.
November 13, 2019 - Had this wine thru auction and had no expectation. 1955 Chateau Ducru Beaucailou totally surprised me. Deep dark black fruits, seductive aroma, showing secondary notes of toast, cedar, smoke, mushroom, forest floor. There's still ample fruits flavour, medium+ tannin and firm acidity. It had totally wowed me. Given the price I paid, this is certainly a treat!
August 15, 2019 - A wine I seldom see, after tasting this bottle, I wish I had a few more in my cellar. Soft, gentle, elegant, medium-bodied and serving up its mix of bright, sweet and tart red fruits with ease, you also found delicate notes of tobacco leaf, cigar box, herbs and cherries from start to finish. If the endnote was longer, the wine would have merited a much higher score.
July 24, 2019 - Super Seconds and the Like (Capitalle Grille, Mpls, MN): Dark red color with a 2cm bricked margin. Starting a run of ’55, ’70, ’89. And ’95 Ducru. There was some initial concern about this bottle on opening, but it turned out just fine. Some of these just need that 15 minutes of air to kick start the old bones. Really improved for 15 to 30 minutes more. Dried leaves, pencil shavings, old cigar, dried flowers and red berries. The palate is medium bodied with polished tannins and a little tartness to the red berries. Very nice nose that exceeds the palate just a bit.
July 24, 2019 - This was likely my Co- WOTN for me at our Capital Grill BDX tasting. When it arrived with Siggy he was kind of down on it, thinking it was still there but showing its age. Then something transforming happened. Guessing it was Lonny's karma at play as this btl really came to life magically and stood tall. Either that, or Siggy was off his game :). I may be biased since this was from my birth year but the only thing that sucked about this wine was the label had fallen off the blt. This had a huge nose full of cigar box extraordinaire and the most fine grained silky palate. The silk here would make the greatest of Musignys, cry uncle. Even the dregs near the end were unaffected by by the sediment. Great to the last drop. Still some tasty; raspberry, cherry, mushroom, cedar and other tertiary elements on the palate. A remarkable comeback apparently from the moment the cork was pulled. Even Brad B couldn't find much not to his liking here. Fabulous! Got to stay in Siggy's good graces! Yea, just another '55 BDX :).
July 15, 2019 - Another strong showing for the 1955 Ducru-Beaucaillou, this bottle sported a very typical nose - full of ginger snap, cedar, old leather, cedar, and mellow raspberry fruit. Broad, effusive, spicy nose; really grabs the attention. Slightly more herbal after an hour of air, but just adding to the complexity. From a top shoulder fill and great provenance, this didn't flag over the 3 hours it was in the decanter.
May 5, 2019 - Ducru Beaucaillou - 90 year Retrospective (Boston Harbor Hotel): Good god, does Bordeaux get better than this? In a flight of all-star performances the 55 seemed to be the consensus favorite at the table for its sensual aromas and silky, finely integrated palate. Absolute fireworks on the palate here with currant, lilly, ginger, spices and caramelized cherry. Incredibly long perfumed finish that fills the nasal cavity for minutes.
May 5, 2019 - 90 years of Ducru Beaucaillou: Fabulous, mature St. Julien which has a great deal to say about Ducru-Beaucaillou and 1955 in particular. Currant, cedar, ginger, biscuit, first flush Darjeeling - broad, savory-sweet nose, perfectly mellow on the nose and palate. Truly a beauty. From 750mL, Nicolas, very top shoulder, decanted 20 minutes.